Goose Creek resident Locklear runner-up in Challenge

By Rob GanttThe Gazette

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Lifelong Goose Creek resident Jimmy Locklear appears on his way to eventually winning the Lowcountry Sportsman Challenge.But for now, he’s had to settle for a pair of top three finishes in the event.“Last year, I wound up third and this year I wound up second,” Locklear said.“Next year, I’m ready to get that championship.”The second Challenge was held this past Friday and Saturday and 32 competitors competed in darts, pool, golf, bowling and horseshoes. Of the field, 19 were from the Lowcountry.Others came from as far away as Florida and Tennessee.“It was a blast,” the 40-year-old Locklear said. “I probably haven’t laughed so hard in my life. It’s just a great time. It’s a bunch of great guys getting together and having a lot of fun.”Locklear was on the winning team in pool and was at least top six in the other four sports. In each event, competitors are matched up with a partner by blind draw.“Sometimes you’ve got to carry your partner on your shoulders and sometimes your partner carries you,” Locklear said.In Locklear’s case, he might have actually helped pool partner Blake Davidson, from Nashville, win the whole thing. Davidson was also on the winning team in bowling and golf.Locklear does have sole bragging rights as the event’s gambling champion, though. Before the Challenge, each competitor is given $300 in play money and they’re allowed to bet on anything.Locklear said he finished with around $4,000.“I won most of that in pool,” he joked.Local residents Darren Davis, Bob Koontz and Duane Huggins, the defending champ, rounded out the top five in the final standings.Another Challenge will be held in Florida in May, event founder and organizer Mark Flory said. He estimated a handful of local sportsmen would participate in that one.There also could be a Challenge started in the Nashville area next year.Flory currently lives in the Sunshine State but is a Goose Creek native and said he would be happy to give advice on how others could run their own Challenges.To reach Flory, please email markflory795@hotmail.com.

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